Grandmaster Repertoire

The Nimzo-Indian Defence

By

Michael Roiz

Quality Chess
www.qualitychess.co.uk
 Contents
Key to symbols used 4
Preface 5
Bibliography 6

Various 4th Moves

1 Rare Options 7
2 4.b3 17
3 4.d2 32
4 4.g5 48
5 4.f3 66
6 4.a3 82
7 4.g3 101
8 4.f3 109
9 4.f3 Main Line 120

4.e3
10 Rare 5th Moves 139
11 5.a3 153
12 5.ge2 163
13 5.d3 185
14 6.a3 202
15 6.f3 220
16 10.g5 Main Line 233

4.c2
17 Various 5th Moves 255
18 5.a3 264
19 7.f3 279
20 7.g5 297
21 5.cxd5 310
22 6.e3 c5 7.d2 324
23 6.f3 337
24 7.b3 352

Variation Index 375

 Preface

My madness for chess started in 1989, when as a six-year-old kid I saw my father playing with
my uncle. Back then, I could see chess in almost everything, and I started to collect and explore
every chess book I could find. Those were tough times in the Soviet Union and it was not easy to
get good chess books, but my parents did their best to support my hobby. So in 1990 I was lucky
enough to have plenty of books at my disposal, including David Bronsteins tournament book
about the Zurich 1953 Candidates. There were many spectacular games in this book, but I was
especially impressed by the Geller Euwe encounter, where the former World Champion played
the Nimzo-Indian and scored a memorable victory in counterattacking style, using the exciting
motif of a rook sacrifice. The influence of this game was so significant that for the next ten years
I avoided getting doubled c-pawns in my games!

When I look back on my childhood career, I can understand why I did not play 3.c3 with
White and allow the Nimzo-Indian it is one of most complex openings from a strategic point
of view, and the arising positions are sometimes tough to handle, even for grandmasters, so it
would be impossible for a young child. Even after many years of playing the Nimzo-Indian with
both colours, and analysing various systems with top players (including preparing for the Anand
Gelfand World Championship match in 2012, where the Nimzo played an important role) I
still fail to evaluate some positions properly, and so does the engine!

So when Quality Chess asked me to write a book on this opening, focusing on Blacks side, I
found this project very challenging and this appealed to me. Indeed, White has a large choice of
possibilities even on the 4th move therefore, a thorough evaluation of all the possible responses
for Black is difficult to say the least.

The concept of this book is to enable players to feel knowledgeable enough in any system they
may encounter when playing the Nimzo-Indian. So I offer a complete repertoire for Black after
3...b4.

I feel I have succeeded in improving my own understanding of the Nimzo-Indian, and I hope to
share this knowledge with the reader. Best of luck in your journey with the Nimzo-Indian.

Michael Roiz
Beer Sheva, December 2016


er
a pt

Various 4th Moves

Ch
8

4.f3
Variation Index
1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.f3
4...c5
A) 5.c2 110
B) 5.dxc5 111
C) 5.d5 112
D) 5.a3 112
E) 5.g3 c6 115
E1) 6.a3?! 115
E2) 6.d5 116
E3) 6.dxc5 117

D) note to 10.e1 D) after 14.a3 E3) after 7.c2

13...c6!N 14...e7!N 7...xc3!N
110 Various 4th Moves

1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.f3 Chapter 2. 5.g5 is a harmless sideline of the

This move was first seen back in 1887(!), Leningrad System see the note on 5.f3 at
but it was mainly explored by the great the start of Chapter 4. And finally, 5.e3 00 is
players of the 1920s and 1930s: Alekhine, variation B of Chapter 10.
Euwe, Rubinstein and others. Developing the
knight in this way keeps Whites position quite A) 5.c2
flexible, and the dark-squared bishop can still This leads to a harmless line of the Classical
be placed on g5 in the future. Nowadays this System with 4.c2 c5, where White responds
can be considered as an invitation to debate with 5.f3 instead of the more critical 5.dxc5.
the Romanishin System most White players
prefer to enter it via this move order rather 5...cxd4 6.xd4 c6
than with 4.g3. White has to take care of the d4-knight, so
its obvious that the queen is misplaced on c2.
4...c5
4...b6 is also highly topical, with a Nimzo/
Queens Indian hybrid, and moves such as
4...00 and 4...d5 are of course possible, the
latter being a Ragozin. But I will recommend

the text move, directly challenging the
d4-pawn and keeping the game in pure
Nimzo-Indian territory.






7.xc6
The modest 7.e3 00 8.e2 d5 9.xc6 bxc6
10.00 e7 11.b3 e5 didnt pose Black any
problems in Yakimenko Popilski, Golden
Sands 2014.
7...dxc6 8.a3 e7 9.f4 a5!
The ...e6-e5 advance will solve the problem
The options we will cover in this chapter of the c8-bishop. Black is already completely
are A) 5.c2, B) 5.dxc5, C) 5.d5, D) 5.a3 fine, and in the following game he was able to
and E) 5.g3. The last move is by far the most take over the initiative.
important, and the analysis of it will continue
into the next chapter as well. 10.e3?! h5!
Gaining the advantage of the bishop pair.
There are three other significant moves, but
each of them transposes to a separate variation. 11.d3 e5 12.g3 g6 13.e2 xg3 14.hxg3
5.b3 has been covered in variation C of e6
 Chapter 8 4.f3 111

Black was better in Fedoseev Narayanan, 7...a6!

Pune 2014. It is too early for 7...xc3?!, as 8.d2! gives
Black some problems to solve.
B) 5.dxc5
8.xe4N
Inferior is 8.d2 xc3 9.xc3 xc3 10.bxc3
xc5, and Black was obviously better in
Ulanov Molchanov, Togliatti 2014.

8...xc3 9.d1






This offers comfortable play after:

5...e4! 6.d4
Also harmless is 6.d2, as played in Marwitz
Kolessov, Germany 2003: 6...xc3N 7.xc3

xc3 8.bxc3 a6 9.g3 00 10.g2 xc5
11.d4 b8 White has to take care to equalize. 9...xb2!
Less convincing is 9...xc5 10.c2 e5
6...f6 7.e3 11.xe5 xe5 12.d2, when Whites bishops
7.xf6 gxf6 8.d2 xc3 9.bxc3 a6 may cause Black significant problems in the
gave Black comfortable play in Medvedev long run.
Pantykin, Novokuznetsk 2009.
10.xb2 xb2 11.d4 xd4 12.exd4 b6!
Creating some breathing room for the
bishop, while forcing the following exchange
to the benefit of the rook on a8.

13.cxb6 axb6 14.d2 b7 15.e2 e4=

Preventing hb1. Both sides have a weak
pawn in this endgame, and overall the chances
are equal.

112 Various 4th Moves

C) 5.d5 9.c2 f5 10.h4 xc3 11.xf5 xa2

12.d2 xd2 13.xd2 b4 14.c3 f6
doesnt offer White adequate compensation
for the pawn.

9...xc3 10.bxc3 d7
Black had excellent play in Fritz Soelter,
Lieme 2004, due to his control of the
e4-outpost.

D) 5.a3 xc3 6.bxc3

Gaining space does not seem to be effective
in this situation the d5-pawn becomes

vulnerable when White cannot support it by
e2-e4.
5...exd5 6.cxd5 d6 7.g3
7.g5 transposes to a line of the Leningrad
System which was covered in variation B1 of
Chapter 4.

7.e3 00 8.d3 will be covered via the 4.e3 In comparison to the usual Smisch System,
move order see variation B1 of Chapter 10. Whites active possibilities are limited its
difficult for him to gain control over e4.
7...00 8.g2
6...00
Since pinning the f6-knight isnt effective in
this situation, there is no reason to reject this
natural move.
7.e3
It is amazing how one line can transpose to
another in chess. Here is one more example:
7.c2 d5 8.e3
8.g5 is completely harmless after 8...cxd4
9.cxd4 dxc4 10.xc4 b6. This way of
handling the position resembles the Classical
System as covered later in the book. 11.e3
a6 12.a4 xf1 13.xf1 bd7=
8...e4! 9.d2 8...b6 9.cxd5
 Chapter 8 4.f3
9...xc3 10.d2 gxf6 11.d5 d6 12.g3 exd5
13.g2
9...xd5
This suddenly takes the game into Classical
paths see variation B2 of Chapter 21, where
this position arises after 4.c2 d5 5.cxd5
xd5 6.e3 c5 7.a3 xc3 8.bxc3 00 9.f3.
Incidentally, 9...exd5!? 10.c4 cxd4 11.xd4
b7 is also perfectly playable for Black.
Lets see why pinning the knight on f6 achieves
nothing for White:
7.g5 h6 8.h4 a5!
Exploiting the lack of harmony in Whites
camp.
9.xf6?!
This pawn sacrifice is dubious, but its the
only way to fight for the initiative.
The passive 9.c2 is not in the spirit of the
position: 9...e4 10.c1 d5 11.e3 cxd4N
Black grabbed the a3-pawn in one game, but
the text move is much easier: 12.xd4 c6
13.cxd5 exd5 14.d3 e8 15.00 d7=
113
This interesting position was reached in the
game Ivanisevic Kravtsiv, Jerusalem 2015.
White was trying to exploit the opponents
exposed kingside structure, but Black
actually has no reason to deviate from the
greedy approach:
13...d4N 14.00 f5 15.b1 c6 16.b3 a5
17.e3 e8
The reduced material leaves White with
insufficient attacking potential.
7...b6
There is also nothing wrong with 7...d5,
but I like the text move it allows Black to
keep control over the e4-square without letting
White get rid of the weak c4-pawn.
114 Various 4th Moves

8.d3 b7 9.00 e4 12.d2?!

This theoretical position can be reached via 12.xe4N is better, but after 12...fxe4
various move orders. Practice proves that it is 13.d2 d5 Black has at least equal chances.
difficult for White to make the bishops work 12...xd2 13.xd2 a5 14.fe1 f6
effectively. Black had a better structure and the more
harmonious position in Matinian Bocharov,
10.e1 Voronezh 2015.
Also possible is 10.d2, but the immediate
exchange of knights also doesnt bother Black:
10...xd2 11.xd2 f5 12.f3 d6 13.c2
(13.e4 fxe4 [13...f4!?] 14.fxe4 xf1
15.xf1 c6 16.f2 f6 offers Black a very

comfortable endgame)







10...f5!
The same concept as in the lines above
White should not be allowed to push e3-e4!
This was played in Orr Joyce, Armagh
1994, and could be well met by: 13...c6!N 11.f3 d6 12.a4
14.e4 f4 15.e5 h6 16.exd6 xd6 With After 12.e2 e7 13.dxc5 bxc5 14.b1 c6
excellent play for Black. Black had a clear advantage due to his better
pawn structure in Yurtaev Timman, Yerevan
10.c2 f5 11.a4 (ol) 1996.
After 11.d2 xd2 12.xd2 c6 Blacks
chances were already preferable in Gevorgyan 12...c6
Papin, Samara 2015.
11...c6












 Chapter 8 4.f3 115

13.c2?!

White chooses the wrong way to handle +
the position the c4-pawn isnt worth such
measures.

m
Better was 13.dxc5N bxc5 14.a3 e5
15.xc5 c7 16.xd6 xd6 17.e2 c7=

when Black gets full compensation for the
pawn, but not more.
13...a5 14.a3
This position arose in Lautier Gelfand,
Biel 1997, when Blacks strongest continuation
would have been:
The lines we will consider in depth in
this chapter are E1) 6.a3?!, E2) 6.d5 and
E3) 6.dxc5. The main line is 6.g2 and we
will cover it in the next chapter.

6.d3?! runs into 6...cxd4 7.xd4 e5,

and after 8.c2 xc4 9.g2 (9.b3 xc3
10.xc3 d5 11.g2 00) 9...00 10.00 d5
White did not have much for the missing pawn
in Plastowez Wiechert, Mannheim 1994.

E1) 6.a3?!

This is too slow.
14...e7!N 15.e2 e5! 6...xc3 7.bxc3
Securing a definite advantage.

E) 5.g3

Finally we arrive at the main line, which can
also be reached via 4.g3 c5 5.f3.

5...c6
This move is somewhat provocative it
looks like White is being invited to seize a lot

of space with gain of tempo by pushing d4-d5.
However, the pin on the c3-knight offers
Black various tactical resources, so this idea is

justified. Two more common moves are 5...cxd4
and 5...00, but after much analysis, I like
what is happening after the knight move.
116 Various 4th Moves

7...b6 E2) 6.d5

It makes sense to neutralize the pressure
along the long diagonal as soon as possible.


8.g2 b7 9.00
9.e5 can even be met by: 9...xe5!?N (the
simple 9...a5 is also fine) 10.xb7 xc4
11.xa8 xa8 12.00 c6 Blacks position
seems preferable from the human point of
view, since Whites rooks are useless in the

closed position that arises.
9...a5



Seizing space with gain of tempo is amongst
Whites most natural replies. However, closing
the long diagonal helps Black to develop the
queenside pieces and attack the c4-pawn.

6...xc3 7.bxc3 a5 8.d2 00 9.g2 d6
10.00
After a series of obvious moves, Black now
has to decide how to finish his development.

10.g5!?N
This may be Whites best attempt to justify
his opening play, although it still doesnt
inspire confidence in his set-up.
After 10.dxc5 bxc5 11.f4 xc4 Black was

obviously better in Starc Morovic Fernandez,
Pula 2000.
10...xc4 11.e5 xg2 12.xg2 xe5
13.dxe5 h6 14.xf6 gxf6 15.d6
White has some compensation for the 10...b6!?
sacrificed pawn, but Black is the only one who I like this concrete approach White will
can realistically fight for the advantage. not be given time to protect the c4-pawn.
10...e8 11.e4 b6 12.e1 a6 13.f1 led
to a long, strategical battle in Miladinovic
Short, Istanbul (ol) 2000.
 Chapter 8 4.f3 117

11.dxe6 Releasing the pressure in the centre should

11.e4?! a6 12.dxe6 fxe6 13.e5 dxe5
14.xa8 xa8 leads White to an inferior
position.
11...xe6 12.xa8 xa8
be met with:
6...e4
I like this aggressive move. Since 7.g2
would simply drop material, White is obliged
to waste a tempo to protect the knight.

7.c2
Clearly dubious is 7.d3?! as in Name
Jatoba de Oliveira Reis, Dois Irmaos 2008, in
view of 7...xc3N 8.bxc3 xc5 9.e3 b6
10.a3 d6 11.g2 b7.

Whites only other plausible continuation is:

7.d2 xc3 8.xc3
8.bxc3 xc5 9.g2 00 10.00 d6 simply
leaves White with an ugly pawn structure.
8...xc3 9.bxc3 a5 10.g2


13.f3 xc4 14.xc4 xc4
Black had an extra pawn plus long-term
positional compensation for the exchange
in Gulko Kuzmin, Tashkent 1984. Blacks
minor pieces coordinate nicely, while it is not
so clear what White should do with his rooks
and bishop. The loss of the g2-bishop also

means that Whites king could be vulnerable
in the long term.

E3) 6.dxc5 10...xc5!
The other capture would be a mistake:
10...xc3?! 11.d2 00 12.00 b6
13.e3 bxc5 14.e4 xc4 15.d6 White
has a powerful initiative, which more than
compensates for the pawn.
11.d2 00 12.00 b6 13.a4 b7=
Black had successfully neutralized the
pressure along the h1-a8 diagonal in Giorgadze
Novikov, Lvov 1986. Although the position
is objectively equal, in a practical game it is
White who will face the greater challenge not
to end up in a bad endgame with a rotten
queenside structure.

118 Various 4th Moves

This position has been seen five times in 00 to follow shortly. Note how strong
practice. In all those games, the knights were Whites tripled pawns are!
exchanged on c3, seemingly automatically. I 8...xc5 is safer, but 9.xc3 00 10.b4 e7
would like to suggest something better: 11.b2 f6 12.d2 is pleasant for White.
9.axb4 xc1 10.xc1 xb4 11.c3 f6
12.xf6 gxf6 13.d2 a6 14.d4 xc5
15.g2
White has at least enough compensation for
two pawns; the poor bishop on c8 is going to
have no moves for a long time.

8.bxc3 xc5
Even though the knight is somewhat less
effective in fighting for the dark squares,
Blacks position still looks quite attractive due
to having stable squares for both knights and
potential play along the c-file.

7...xc3!N
To understand the necessity for this

improvement, we must consider the alternative.
7...xc3

In Farago Dely, Budapest 1978, the
obvious 8.bxc3 xc5 led to a fine position
for Black. However, I discovered a great new
idea for White:
8.a3!!N



9.g2
9.e3 b6 10.xc5 bxc5 11.g2 b7 12.b1
a5 13.00 would transpose to the same
position.

Black has better chances after: 9.d4 e5
10.a3 d6 11.d1 d7 12.b5 xb5 13.cxb5
c8

8...xe2 9...b6 10.00 b7 11.a3 a5 12.xc5
8...a5?! runs into 9.axb4! xa1 10.bxc3 bxc5 13.ab1 c7 14.fd1 h6
and White is clearly better, with g2 and
 Chapter 8 4.f3 119

Conclusion

4.f3 is one of the most ambitious ways of
meeting the Nimzo. White keeps a flexible
position and avoids blocking the dark-squared
bishop, thus retaining the option of the
annoying g5 pin. I recommend the direct
4...c5, when the ambitious 5.d5 exd5 6.cxd5
illustrates the main drawback of having the
knight on f3: it will be difficult for White to
play e2-e4, which means that the d5-pawn will
be vulnerable.
5.g3 is the most significant option, when
By limiting Whites active possibilities Black
gets a comfortable position. I should mention I suggest the provocative 5...c6, putting
that Black is not obliged to castle, as the king pressure on the centre. Once again White has
may feel safe in the centre, as in the following a choice, but in this chapter I looked at the
line: relative sidelines, saving the main line for the
next chapter. Black has a mostly comfortable
15.d2 xg2 16.xg2 e7!? ride in the variations examined here, although
Followed by ...ab8, intending to swap the its worth familiarizing yourself with the
rooks and put pressure on Whites doubled novelty on move 7 of variation E3, as the
pawns. alternative could lead to problems if your
opponent happens to be armed with the big
improvement I found for White.